We enable people without access to traditional banks (including many women) to expand their businesses, educate their children, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. Through Kiva, a non-profit organisation working with microfinance institutions, you choose a borrower to support with a loan of just $5 or $25. Similar loans by other lenders are combined until the required total is reached. As your money is repaid you can withdraw it or lend it to someone else. Money that is loaned over and over again does more good than a one-time donation.Join 'Genealogists for Families' - together we are making a difference!

18 January 2012

Update on Brisbane Meet-Ups, January 2012

Last Sunday we held our first Genealogists for Families social event in Brisbane. We met at 10:30 for coffee, and more than two hours later we were still chatting happily so we stayed for lunch!

Fiona, Chris and Ken came up from the Gold Coast, and Helen and I were the Brisbane representatives. I see Helen, and Ken and his lovely wife Chris, every few months, but this was the first time I had met Fiona. She has just started using Twitter and blogs for genealogy, and I love the name she chose (Dance Skeletons).

The cafe I originally suggested for our second event is under new management and no longer suitable, so I have changed the venue. On Sunday 22 Jan 2012 (1:30pm) we will meet at Tognini's cafe and wine bar, beside the bookshop near the entrance to the State Library of Queensland. If you are coming and have not already contacted me, please do so, as I need to confirm numbers for the table booking.

If you want to take this opportunity to ask for help with your family history, come prepared with names, dates and places on family group sheets, and photocopies of relevant certificates. You could also bring 'trading cards' with the address of your genealogy Web site, blog, Twitter account etc.

The Lifeline Bookfest, the largest second-hand book sale in the world, will be nearby at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Sunday will be the last day (8:30am - 7:30pm), so most items will be half price. You may want to park under the Centre (about $15) and bring a small suitcase on wheels.

I am already thinking about future get-togethers. With luck, a date in late February or early March may coincide with trips to Brisbane by Pauleen from Darwin and Chris from Rockhampton. A weekday meet-up at Queensland State Archives (BYO lunch) is another possibility.

What team social events (with or without a Kiva fund-raising focus) would you be interested in attending in your local area?

As to team events -don't know that there are any other Kiva sponsors in Darwin..will need to check. Perhaps there's an opportunity for those of us involved with Kiva to grab a few minutes at the Bombing of Darwin presentations.

Pauleen, if you would like to distribute 'Genealogists for Families' flyers at the Bombing of Darwin events, let me know and I will email you a master copy in PDF format. The same applies to anyone can put flyers on a noticeboard or display stand at local Archives or libraries.

Jill, I certainly intend to have at least one meet-up (probably two) at the Congress. I am open to suggestions re which evening/s would be suitable. Perhaps those of us who are not going to the Congress dinner could eat together on the Friday night. And I would welcome suggestions on how a social event might also become a minor fund-raising exercise to fund an extra Kiva loan.

Hi Judy I just send you a fb message and thought that a meet up at the Queensland State Archives would be good and realise that Helen has already suggested it on here - great minds think alike as they say! Chris (still have to set up blog name :))

There seems to be plenty of support for a meet-up at Qld State Archives. Can you come on a weekday, Chris, or only the second Saturday of the month? (Looking forward to reading your genealogy blog when it is up and running. Keep me posted!)

Thanks Gill. Before we had finished our first cup of coffee we were swapping ideas, sharing research tips and learning from each other. I am looking forward to getting to know more members of the team. These outings will definitely give my social life a much needed boost! As time goes on I hope we can also try some of the fund raising event ideas suggested in Kiva's Lending Team Playbook.

Things are moving fast! We will have another meet-up in Brisbane on Saturday 3rd March 2012. This should suit Chris Wright (who will be down from Rockhampton that day) and hopefully Sharn White and Pauleen Cass (who may be visiting Brisbane from Sydney and Darwin respectively). I'd suggest 10:30am at Tognini's cafe near the State Library. Who's interested?